Milton Police Lt. Richard A Krauss will take over as the town’s police chief on June 1. (Courtesy photo)

MILTON — Mark McGowan, who has served as Milton’s police chief for the past 13 years, has announced his retirement, effective June. 1. The Board of Selectmen has named Richard A Krauss, currently a lieutenant on the department, to take over the chief’s position from that date.

McGowan, 46, has spent 23 years in law enforcement, having started his police career in neighboring Farmington.

“I worked my way up to lieutenant in Farmington, before coming over here,” said McGowan in an interview on Thursday afternoon.

Since taking over from Milton previous police chief, Nelson Forrest, in the summer of 1999, McGowan said his long tenure here has helped bring increased stability and respect for the department. In that time he has reactivated the DARE Progam, established a Neighborhood Watch, created a bike patrol and continued with the lake boat patrol.

One of his major achievements, McGowan reflected, was overseeing the building of the Milton police station, which was completed six years ago, and which allowed the Police Department to move out of its cramped quarters at the side of the fire station. This has helped Milton Police Department, as an agency, to increase its reputation for professionalism, McGowan added.

“I am leaving one of the best boards of selectmen I have served under,” said McGowan, noting, without going into detail, that some boards had been good and others “tough” to work with.

“But the town has always supported us,” he said.

McGowan said that in the last few years, crime has decreased in Milton, although calls for service have risen in line with the slowly growing population.

“Burglaries are still tough, though. They come in waves,” said the chief.

McGowan said that he will miss the people in his agency, which he described as a family, and also the people of Milton. The department has eight full-time officers (including the chief), two part-time officers and one civilian.

“I’d like to thank everyone,” he said.

A longtime resident of Farmington, McGowan said he is currently in the process of moving to Bartlett, in the White Mountains region. He has no definite job lined up at this time, but has had “a couple of offers.”

“It will be something quite different from law enforcement,” he hinted.

With more than 20 years police service, and having passed the age of 45 (by a year), McGowan will receive a state pension, but describes it as “not enough to live on.” Hence, a new career.

In honor of Chief McGowan’s years of service, a party will be held in his honor at the Governor’s Inn in Rochester, on Friday, June 21. A happy hour will commence at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served promptly at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased from Milton Police Department by June 17. Call 652-4514 for more information.